Performance of an Automated High Accuracy Phase Measurement System

Abstract

Abstract : A fully automated measurement system has been developed that combines many properties previously realized with separate techniques. This system is an extension of the dual mixer time difference technique, and maintains its important features: zero dead time, absolute phase different measurement, very high precision, the ability to measure oscillators of equal frequency and the ability to make measurements at the time of the operator's choice. For one set of design parameters, the theoretical resolution is 0.2 ps, the measurement noise is 2 ps rms and measurements may be made within 0.1 s of any selected time. The dual mixer technique has been extended by adding scalers which remove the cycle ambiguity experienced in previous realizations. In this respect, the system functions like a divider plus clock, storing the epoch of each device under test in hardware.